Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan has condemned the ‘utterly reckless’ illegal fire that destroyed large sections of Wicklow Mountains National Park.

“Last week, an illegal fire destroyed 66ha of land within Wicklow Mountains National Park, the equivalent of an area more than 50 times the size of Croke Park,” he said.

In the early hours of last Thursday (May 28), a member of the public reported a fire on an open hillside in Piperstown, near the Glenasmole Valley in south Co. Dublin. This land is part of Wicklow Mountains National Park. 

The report triggered an emergency response from the Dublin Fire Brigade, while personnel from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Coillte also attended the scene. 

Together, they attempted to bring the fire under control, but strong winds and large gorse stands on site created the conditions that led it to spread extremely quickly.

Significant public resources were mobilised, including the use of multiple fire tenders and helicopters to conduct water drops.

There were private homes close by, and Dublin Fire Brigade called an excavator onsite to dig firebreaks to protect them.

Illegal activity

Minister O'Sullivan said: “Now that the emergency response is completed and a garda investigation is underway, I want to remind the public that the National Parks and Wildlife Service has significantly ramped up its capacity and readiness for these events, and will be utilising its ‘eyes in the sky’ aerial surveillance programme and ground crews to prevent and deter illegal activity."

Under the Wildlife Act, burning, cutting, or destroying vegetation on uncultivated land or hedgerows is illegal from March 1 to August 31 to safeguard nesting birds and wildlife during their breeding season.

The burning of general domestic or agricultural waste is entirely prohibited. 

The minister appealed to communities and landowners to be aware of responsibilities when it comes to burning activities.

He said: “Illegal burning is a wildlife crime and is subject to investigation and prosecution.

“I’m so grateful to the emergency services and NPWS personnel who put their lives at risk for us in situations like this, and I’d like to commend the member of the public who reported the fire.”

NPWS staff have reported the destruction of pipit and lark nests as a consequence of this fire.

Minister O'Sullivan added: “Stories of adult birds carrying beaks full of food looking for their nests now torched is truly heartbreaking.

"Nesting season is a time for growth and for the future survival of our rarest birds and wildlife. That makes this act particularly cruel.”